Washing-machine valve



Dec. 29;, 1925. 1,567,692

J. D. ALEXANDER WASHING MACHINE VALVE Filed Nov. 1, 1920 jfrqi.

jzzzfazzzazt Patented Dec. 29, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE.

JAMES D. ALEXANDER, 0F NORIEOLK, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN LAUNDRY' MAGI-IINERY COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

WASHING-MACHINE VALVE.

Application filed November 1, 1920. Serial No. 421,073.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES D. ALEXANDER, citizen of the United States, residing at. Norfolk, in the county of N orfolkand State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vashing-Machine Valves, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to valve structures, such as are used in connection with washing machines and which are usually located on the-under side of such machines and discharging into a suitable waste.

Washing machines are usually provided with discharge valve mechanism located adjacent to the bottom thereof whereby the minimum amounts of conduits or passages are provided for the collection of dirt and undesirable matter. These valves are usually operated from any suitable point and it is frequently necessary to change the gasket or packing medium upon these valves in order to prevent leakage. As a rule in renewingor changingthe gasket or packing it is necessary to remove the valve or disassemble it to get at the parts. This is a very'unhandy job due to the location of the valve on one hand and due to the fact that it is usually covered with a slime or other material which renders the work very undesirable.

The present invention relates to a washing machine valve constructed and arranged in such a manner thatthe gasket or packing portion of the valve is readily removedfrom the exterior of the machine and without removal of the main valve structure or without disassembling the parts.

The invention may be further briefly summarized as consisting in the construction and combination of parts hereinafter set forth in the following description, drawings and claims.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a sectional view showing the valve; Fig. 2 is a section upon the line 2-2, Fig. 1, showing the valve member in elevation; and Fig. 3 is a view of the valve member in side elevation.

Referring to the construction shown in the drawings, 1 represents the tub or main casing of the washer to which is attached a connection 2 having a flange 8 to which is secured a valve casing 4. This casing is preferably rectangular in cross section and is provided with a vertically disposed partition 5'separating the easing into a discharge chamber 6 and a valve chamber 7. This partition is cut away to form an arcshapedseat 8 at its lower edge, and this edge together with inwardly extending side por- U011. 9 serve to form a discharge opening leading-from the discharge chamber 6 to the valve chamber 7. The casing below the valve chamber is provided with a discharge opening 10 of rectangular formiand aroundthis opening within-the valve chamber is a valve seat 11 following the contour of the edge of the opening and extending up into the casing. The inner side edge of this valve seat is in alignment. with the partition ,portions 9. In the rear of the valve chamber are suitable ears 12. suitably formed and adapted to support a valve operating shaft 13 extending out at one side of the casing through a stuffing box structure 14. Secured to this shaft 13 is a valve member c.ompris ing a. pair of spaced arms 15 extending forward and preferably forming a part of a valve guard 16 which is preferably arcshaped with its outer face concentric with the shaft 13. The guard member engages the arc-shaped seat 8. This guard member is provided with suitable openings 17 and it forms a structure for protecting the valve against lint and other foreign matter present in the washer. The arcshaped seat 8 on the partition 5 also forms an edge which tends to clean the lint from this guard as it is moved in the manipulation of the valve.

Each of the arms 15 is provided with a pair of key-hole shaped openings 19 and these openings are adapted to receive headed pins 20 secured in the valve body. This valve body comprises an upper plate 21, a gasket or packing 22 and a. lower plate 23.. The upper plate 21 is provided with a downwardly extending flange 24 adapted for engagement back of the. rear portion of the valve seat to prevent the valve body from becoming disconnected. The forward edge of the valve body projects under the guard and is adapted to engage between it and the valve seatll.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that when the valve is in the closed position as shown in Fig. 1, and water is admitted to the washer, the water will pass. down through the guard on top of the valve and hold it on its seat. When the valve is open the water then rushes past the opening formed in the partition 5 over the valve seat and out through the discharge, the valve body tending to drop toward the shaft 13, thereby not having any tendency to become disengaged. If the operator should desire to remove the valve body he may do so by reaching up through the opening 10, grasping the valve body and moving it away from the pivot, when the heads of the pins 20 will register with the enlarged portions of the key-hole shaped openings, when it may be removed. The valve body then may be repaired and returned to working position.

Having described my invention, 1 claim:

1. A valve structure, comprising a valve casing adapted for communication with a container and having an opening through its wall, valve mechanism within the casing, and a valve body for opening and closing said casing opening and having interlocking engagement with said valve mechanism and being removable therefrom through said casing opening.

2. In a washing machine, a tub, a discharge valve casing secured to the bottom thereot' and having a discharge opening through its bottom wall, a valve member operatively mounted within said casing, a valve body for opening and closing said opening, and locking means between the valve member and the valve body, said looking means permitting the release of the valve body by relative plain rectilinear movement of the valve member and the body.

3. A valve structure, comprising a valve casing adapted for communication with a container and having an opening through its wall, a valve member operatively mounted within said casing, and a valve body member {or opening and closing said casing opening, one of said members being provided with a key-hole shaped opening and the other member being provided with a headed pin engaging in said opening, whereby said members are removably secured together.

A. valve structure, comprising a valve casing adapted for communication with a container and having an opening through its wall, a valve member operatively mounted within said casing and having key-hole shaped openings, and a valve body for opening and closing said casing opening and having headed pins engaging in said openings whereby said valve member and said valve body are removably secured together.

5. A valve structure, comprising a valve casing adapted for communication with a container and having an opening in its'wall, a valve seat surrounding said opening on the inner side of said casing wall, a valve member operatively mounted within said casing, and a valve body for opening and closing said casing opening and being removably secured to said valve member, said valve body being adapted to be passed through said casing opening.

6. A valve structure, comprising a valve casing adapted for communication with a container and having an opening through its wall, a valve member operatively mounted within said casing, a valve body for opening and closing said casing opening, locking means between said valve member and said valve body and adapted to permit the release of the valve body upon a relative movement ot' the valve member and the valve body, and means for preventing such movement when the valve body is in closing position.

7. A valve structure, comprising a valve casing adapted for communication with a container and having an opening in its wall, a valve seat surrounding said opening, a valve member operatively mounted within said casing, a valve body for cooperation with said valve seat to open and close said casing opening, locking means between said valve member and said valve body and adapted to permit the release of the valve body from the valve member upon relative movement thereof, and a flange on said valve body for normally engaging said valve seat and preventing such relative movement.

8. A valve structure, comprising a valve casing having an opening in its wall, a partition in the valve casing having an opening and separating the casing into twocompartments, and valve mechanism operatively mounted in one of said compartments and comprising a valve for opening and closing said casing opening and a perforated guard cooperating with said partition to protect said valve.

in testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JAMES D. ALEXANDER. 

